Due to a variety of circumstances, my input this week is somewhat abbreviated.
Thanks to Rochelle as always for hosting this challenge, and to Jan for the prompt photo, below.
© Jan Wayne Fields
Ordinary
I wonder what it’s like to be ordinary.
To be one of those bland people, one of the faceless crowd, someone who is never noticed.
There are those of us from whom a light shines, who brighten up other, less fortunate, lives.
And some who stumble along in the gloom, unremarked and unremarkable.
When life’s little catastrophes befall them we might smile faintly, or just shrug, uninterested.
They have no importance to our own, much more significant, lives.
Ha, but do you know the funny thing?
Some people are so ordinary that they just don’t see it.
A good story though short, C.E. If someone seems significantly ordinary it’s probably because we don’t know much about them. We might be surprised if we knew more. For all we know, they could be living in the Government Witness Protection Program. If I was in that, I’d make an effort to seem ordinary also. Yes, we may seem the same to them. 🙂 — Suzanne
This is sad, not just for the “ordinary people” but also for those that describe them.
Indeed, Dawn, especially for the latter.
Horrible and yet a true observation. Some people do seem to shine, have others fluttering round them, while many just shuffle in the shadows. Wonderfully told and dark as pitch. Very you, C 🙂
I am grinning like an idiot here, Lynn.
I love it when someone like you gets exactly what I try to convey.
Thank you.
Always my pleasure, C 🙂
Great character portrayal.
Thank you, Lisa, that was my goal.
This guy is FULL OF HIMSELF! He’s the boring one and he doesn’t even know it! Nice story!
Laughing.
Oh Nan, thank you so much!
Ah. Most interesting.
Hi, B.
I’m guessing this represents the equation of Id vs Ego = Relativity. Throwing in a dash of individual perspective of course. Cool, we could have discourse for hours on this one! xxx
Yes please, Penny
Give me the ordinary any day, much safer
Safer, Mike?
Do you never crave adventure?
What an interesting soliloquy. The speaker could easily be a sociopath, who truly believes he lives in a higher realm than lesser mortals. It’s a good character study, and a good read.
Thank you, Linda, he may believe, or he may be kidding himself
This voice comes off to me as an intellectual snob, couching his prejudices in theory. The story tells us more about his own opinion of himself than of what he thinks he knows about “ordinary” people. Nice intro to a less than likable character.
‘tells us more about his own opinion of himself ‘ – you got it, Andy!
Very interesting and I love a reflective, philosophical piece of writing. You drew me right in and I hope for his sake he remains with his delusions and enjoys his self-importance while he can.
I am an extroverted extrovert, although I’ve had to reign myself in thanks to marriage and kids. A new friend DJs for karaoke locally and I was like wow. I’ve been looking for a stage. I couldn’t wait. Then, some other friends of mine said they couldn’t stand it and you get these people hopping up who can’t sing. I did take the shine off things a bit. Haven’t got there yet but there are ways of making sure you’re far from ordinary and some of us don’t even have to try.
That might not be a good thing either.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Soemetimes, Rowena, our delusions are all that we have to give us comfort
Ordinary faceless people are good secret service men. Flamboyant people are like mafia dons, wearing a yellow shirt and a white trousers. One is ordinary and the other a showman, both do not see that they appear odd.
I love this comment!
Thank you, sir.
A very reflective piece this week, CE. The speaker’s orientation is ambiguous for me. I’m not sure whether he’s being derisive or envious.
He thinks he is being derisive, but of course he is no different
Every ordinary man thinks he’s unique… but there is a comfort in being ordinary as soon as you realize it.
Exactly, Bjorn!
Thank you for getting it.
There is too much excitement for ordinary folk, best just to sit quietly and be well ordinary.
Loved it.
Thanks, James, glad you enjoyed my tongue-in-cheek view
I feel the narrator has fallen into his own contemplative trap. Nice one!
Well spotted, sir!
Ordinary people are the cogs in the wheel of life, without the ordinary folk the whole engine would seize, maybe!
Maybe, sir, maybe!
I think ordinary is the best way to be and the narrator has a little bit of a puffed-up view of himself. =) We all have a spark, but some work extra to make theirs shine.
I love ‘little bit of a puffed-up view ‘!
Thank you, Brenda
Aah, a philosophical note has been touched this time!
Indeed, sir!
Compelling rumination here. In these days of extremes, ordinary is refreshing.
Thank you, you are probably right
You’re welcome, Ceayr.
When you don’t see your own reflection in a shop widow you are even less than ordinary – or you left your specs at home..
Or you are a vampire, maybe?
Ah, that was clever! Great take on the photo prompt.
https://susan-a-eamestravelfictionandphotos.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-perfect-band-name-100-word-story.html
Thank you, Susan
Dear CE,
Perhaps the narrator is so self-absorbed he can’t see beyond himself. Methinks the “ordinary” people are more interesting than he realizes and he needs a clearer mirror in which to see his reflection. Nicely rendered.
Shalom,
Rochelle
If it made you think, m’lady, then I am happy
A piece of contemplative philosophy, I wonder if our narrator here may be lacking a bit of self-awareness too.
Laughing.
Ya think!
I can sense a point of inflection coming, where the speaker’s voice shades over into the beginning of envy
Envy? Interesting…
Thanks, Neil